Beekeeping systems, apparatus, and methods

ABSTRACT

A beekeeping apparatus includes a bottom side having an arcuate groove defined therein, the arcuate groove being sized and dimensioned to correspond to the rim of a repository; and a top side including a recessed area defined therein, the recessed area being sized and dimensioned to correspond to a beekeeping frame, and a plurality of generally rectangular openings defined through the recessed area, the rectangular openings each being sized and dimensioned to receive and retain a portion of a beekeeping frame, and collectively being sized and dimensioned to receive and retain portions of different sizes of beekeeping frames.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a U.S. continuation patent application of,and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/589,092, filed Jan. 5, 2015, which '092 patent applicationpublished as U.S. patent application publication no. 2015/0133026 andissued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,629,342 on Apr. 25, 2017, which patentapplication, patent application publication, and patent are herebyincorporated herein by reference, and which '092 patent application is aU.S. continuation patent application of, and claims priority under 35U.S.C. §120 to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/313,869, filed Jun.24, 2014, which '869 patent application published as U.S. patentapplication publication no. 2014/0308876 and issued as U.S. Pat. No.8,926,397 on Jan. 6, 2015, which patent application, patent applicationpublication, and patent are hereby incorporated herein by reference, andwhich '869 patent application is a U.S. continuation patent applicationof, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, international patentapplication serial number PCT/US2013/052995, filed Jul. 31, 2013, whichinternational patent application and any patent application publicationsthereof, including international patent application publicationWO2014/022545 are hereby incorporated herein by reference, and whichinternational patent application is, for purposes of the U.S., a U.S.nonprovisional patent application of, and claims priority under 35U.S.C. §119(e) to, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/677,914, filed Jul. 31, 2012. This provisional patent application isalso hereby incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyrightprotection under the copyright laws of the United States and othercountries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all othercopyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for use inbeekeeping.

Recently, beekeeping has grown increasingly popular, both as a hobby andas a source of supplemental income. A conventional methodology forbeekeeping involves the use of frames, wooden, plastic, or otherwise,into which bees build honeycomb. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary suchconventional frame. These frames can be of various depths, asillustrated in FIG. 2. In each of these figures, in illustrating theseframes, a removable screen into which bees can build honeycomb has beenomitted for clarity. Honey from this honeycomb can subsequently beharvested, by removing such a frame into which bees have builthoneycomb, uncapping the honeycomb, such as with an uncapping fork oruncapping knife, and letting the honey flow out of the uncappedhoneycomb into a repository, such as, for example, a five gallon bucket.FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary such five gallon bucket which could beused to capture honey following uncapping of honeycomb built into aframe.

However, one or more needs exist for improvement in such a beekeepingmethodology. This, and other needs, are addressed by one or more aspectsof the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes many aspects and features. Moreover,while many aspects and features relate to, and are described in, thecontext of beekeeping, the present invention is not limited to use onlyin this context, as will become apparent from the following summariesand detailed descriptions of aspects, features, and one or moreembodiments of the present invention.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention relates to a beekeepingapparatus. The beekeeping apparatus includes a bottom side having anarcuate groove defined therein, the arcuate groove being sized anddimensioned to correspond to the rim of a repository; and a top sideincluding a recessed area defined therein, the recessed area being sizedand dimensioned to correspond to a beekeeping frame, and a plurality ofgenerally rectangular openings defined through the recessed area, therectangular openings each being sized and dimensioned to receive andretain a portion of a beekeeping frame, and collectively being sized anddimensioned to receive and retain portions of different sizes ofbeekeeping frames.

In a feature of this aspect, a cross-sectional shape of the recessedarea is generally rectangular.

In a feature of this aspect, the recessed area includes protrudingsurfaces protruding proximate a midpoint of each lengthwise side of therecessed area, the protruding surfaces being sized and dimensioned tohelp stabilize a beekeeping frame received within the recessed area.

In a feature of this aspect, the arcuate groove is sized and dimensionedto correspond to the rim of a five gallon bucket.

In a feature of this aspect, the beekeeping apparatus comprises plastic.

In a feature of this aspect, the beekeeping apparatus comprisesaluminum.

In a feature of this aspect, the beekeeping apparatus comprises moldedplastic.

In a feature of this aspect, the beekeeping apparatus comprises castmetal.

Another aspect relates to a beekeeping apparatus which includes a bottomside having an arcuate groove defined therein. The arcuate groove issized and dimensioned to correspond to the rim of a repository having agenerally circular cross-sectional shape. The beekeeping apparatusfurther includes a top side including a recessed area defined therein.The recessed area is sized and dimensioned to correspond to a beekeepingframe. The top side further includes a first plurality of generallyrectangular openings defined through the recessed area on a firstlengthwise side of a midpoint of the recessed area, and a secondplurality of generally rectangular openings defined through the recessedarea on a second lengthwise side of the midpoint of the recessed area.The second lengthwise side is the opposite side as compared to the firstlengthwise side. Each of the generally rectangular openings is sized anddimensioned to receive and retain a protruding portion of a beekeepingframe when a portion of the beekeeping frame is received within therecessed area. The generally rectangular openings are spaced to receiveand retain portions of different sizes of beekeeping frames.

In a feature of this aspect, the beekeeping apparatus is configured tobe mounted onto a repository having a generally circular cross-sectionalshape by placing the beekeeping apparatus on top of the repository suchthat a rim of the repository is received within the arcuate groove.

In a feature of this aspect, the beekeeping apparatus is configured toreceive and retain a first size beekeeping frame within the recessedarea such that it extends vertically upward above a repository when thebeekeeping apparatus is mounted onto the repository. In at least someimplementations, the beekeeping apparatus is configured to receive andretain a second size beekeeping frame within the recessed area such thatit extends vertically upward above a repository the beekeeping apparatusis mounted onto, the second size being different than the first size. Inat least some implementations, the beekeeping apparatus is configured toreceive and retain a third size beekeeping frame within the recessedarea such that it extends vertically upward above a repository thebeekeeping apparatus is mounted onto, the third size being differentthan the first or second size.

In a feature of this aspect, the first plurality of generallyrectangular openings comprises three openings.

In a feature of this aspect, the second plurality of generallyrectangular openings comprises three openings.

In a feature of this aspect, the first plurality of generallyrectangular openings comprises two openings.

In a feature of this aspect, the second plurality of generallyrectangular openings comprises two openings.

Another aspect relates to a system comprising a repository having agenerally circular cross-sectional shape and a beekeeping apparatus. Thebeekeeping apparatus includes a bottom side having an arcuate groovedefined therein, the arcuate groove being sized and dimensioned tocorrespond to the rim of the repository, as well as a top side includinga recessed area defined therein, the recessed area being sized anddimensioned to correspond to a beekeeping frame, a plurality ofgenerally rectangular openings defined through the recessed area, therectangular openings each being sized and dimensioned to receive andretain a portion of a beekeeping frame, and collectively being sized anddimensioned to receive and retain portions of different sizes ofbeekeeping frames. The system further includes a generally rectangularfirst beekeeping frame, a first side of the first beekeeping frame beinggenerally received within the recessed area of the top side of thebeekeeping apparatus, and the first side of the first beekeeping frameincluding a protrusion, the protrusion being received within one of theplurality of generally rectangular openings defined through the recessedarea of the top side of the beekeeping apparatus.

In a feature of this aspect, the repository comprises a bucket.

In a feature of this aspect, the repository comprises a five gallonbucket.

Another aspect relates to a method comprising mounting a beekeepingapparatus onto a repository having a generally circular cross-sectionalshape by positioning the beekeeping apparatus on top of the repositorysuch that a portion of the rim of the repository is received within anarcuate groove defined in a bottom side of the beekeeping apparatus;securely mounting a beekeeping frame containing honeycomb onto thebeekeeping apparatus by positioning a side of the beekeeping framewithin a recessed area of a top side of the beekeeping apparatus suchthat a protruding portion of the beekeeping frame is received within oneof a plurality of openings in the recessed area of the top side of thebeekeeping apparatus; and uncapping cells of the honeycomb containedwithin the beekeeping frame such that honey from the cells flows intothe repository.

Another aspect relates to a method comprising mounting a beekeepingapparatus onto a repository having a generally circular cross-sectionalshape by positioning the beekeeping apparatus on top of the repositorysuch that a portion of the rim of the repository is received within anarcuate groove defined in a bottom side of the beekeeping apparatus;securely mounting a beekeeping frame containing honeycomb onto thebeekeeping apparatus by positioning a first side of the beekeeping framewithin a recessed area of a top side of the beekeeping apparatus suchthat a first protruding portion of the beekeeping frame is receivedwithin one of a plurality of openings in the recessed area of the topside of the beekeeping apparatus; uncapping cells of the honeycombcontained within the beekeeping frame that are disposed closest to therepository such that honey from the cells flows into the repository;removing the beekeeping frame from the beekeeping apparatus; rotatingthe beekeeping frame; securely mounting the beekeeping frame onto thebeekeeping apparatus by positioning a second side of the beekeepingframe that is opposite the first side within the recessed area of thetop side of the beekeeping apparatus such that a second protrudingportion of the beekeeping frame is received within one of a plurality ofopenings in the recessed area of the top side of the beekeepingapparatus; and uncapping cells of the honeycomb contained within thebeekeeping frame that are disposed closest to the repository such thathoney from the cells flows into the repository.

In a feature of this aspect, the first said step of uncapping cells ofthe honeycomb contained within the beekeeping frame comprises startingproximate a midpoint of the frame.

In a feature of this aspect, the first said step of uncapping cells ofthe honeycomb contained within the beekeeping frame comprises startingproximate the first side of the frame.

Other aspects of the present invention relate to, inter alia, a systemfor beekeeping, a method for beekeeping, a method for obtaining honey,and a method of uncapping.

In addition to the aforementioned aspects and features of the presentinvention, it should be noted that the present invention furtherencompasses the various possible combinations and subcombinations ofsuch aspects and features. Thus, for example, any aspect may be combinedwith an aforementioned feature in accordance with the present inventionwithout requiring any other aspect or feature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more preferred embodiments of the present invention now will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereinthe same elements are referred to with the same reference numerals, andwherein,

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate exemplary beekeeping frames;

FIG. 3 illustrates a five gallon bucket which could be used to capturehoney following uncapping of honeycomb built into a frame;

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate a preferred implementation of a beekeepingapparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates the beekeeping apparatus of FIG. 4 secured to thefive gallon bucket of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 illustrates receipt of a frame within a recessed area of thebeekeeping apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 illustrates schematics for a preferred implementation of abeekeeping apparatus;

FIG. 9 illustrates a top side of a preferred implementation of abeekeeping apparatus in which sections have been cored out;

FIG. 10 illustrates a preferred implementation in which protrudingsurfaces are omitted from a recessed area; and

FIG. 11 illustrates insertion of a nail into an opening of a preferredimplementation of a beekeeping apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one havingordinary skill in the relevant art (“Ordinary Artisan”) that the presentinvention has broad utility and application. As should be understood,any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of theabove-disclosed aspects of the invention and may further incorporateonly one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Furthermore,any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” isconsidered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out thepresent invention. Other embodiments also may be discussed foradditional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enablingdisclosure of the present invention. As should be understood, anyembodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of theabove-disclosed aspects of the invention and may further incorporateonly one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Moreover, manyembodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, andequivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodimentsdescribed herein and fall within the scope of the present invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention is described herein in detailin relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that thisdisclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present invention, andis made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enablingdisclosure of the present invention. The detailed disclosure herein ofone or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, tolimit the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention,which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof.It is not intended that the scope of patent protection afforded thepresent invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitationfound herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps ofvarious processes or methods that are described herein are illustrativeand not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, althoughsteps of various processes or methods may be shown and described asbeing in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processesor methods are not limited to being carried out in any particularsequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps insuch processes or methods generally may be carried out in variousdifferent sequences and orders while still falling within the scope ofthe present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope ofpatent protection afforded the present invention is to be defined by theappended claims rather than the description set forth herein.

Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refersto that which the Ordinary Artisan would understand such term to meanbased on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that themeaning of a term used herein—as understood by the Ordinary Artisanbased on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from anyparticular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that themeaning of the term as understood by the Ordinary Artisan shouldprevail.

Regarding applicability of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6, no claim element isintended to be read in accordance with this statutory provision unlessthe explicit phrase “means for” or “step for” is actually used in suchclaim element, whereupon this statutory provision is intended to applyin the interpretation of such claim element.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an”each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a pluralityunless the contextual use dictates otherwise. Thus, reference to “apicnic basket having an apple” describes “a picnic basket having atleast one apple” as well as “a picnic basket having apples.” Incontrast, reference to “a picnic basket having a single apple” describes“a picnic basket having only one apple.”

When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one ofthe items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Thus,reference to “a picnic basket having cheese or crackers” describes “apicnic basket having cheese without crackers”, “a picnic basket havingcrackers without cheese”, and “a picnic basket having both cheese andcrackers.” Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and”denotes “all of the items of the list.” Thus, reference to “a picnicbasket having cheese and crackers” describes “a picnic basket havingcheese, wherein the picnic basket further has crackers,” as well asdescribes “a picnic basket having crackers, wherein the picnic basketfurther has cheese.”

Referring now to the drawings, one or more preferred embodiments of thepresent invention are next described. The following description of oneor more preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in noway intended to limit the invention, its implementations, or uses.

Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 4-5 illustrates a preferredimplementation of a beekeeping apparatus 10 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a top side ofthe beekeeping apparatus 10, while FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom side ofthe beekeeping apparatus 10.

As illustrated, the bottom side of the beekeeping apparatus 10 includesan arcuate groove 12. The arcuate groove 12 is preferably sized anddimensioned to correspond to the rim of a five gallon bucket, such asthe five gallon bucket illustrated in FIG. 3. The arcuate groove 12enables the beekeeping apparatus 10 to be secured to such a five gallonbucket by disposing the beekeeping apparatus 10 on top of the fivegallon bucket such that a portion of the rim of the five gallon bucketis received within the arcuate groove 12. Gravity, and the depth of thegroove 12, serves to secure the beekeeping apparatus 10 in place.

FIG. 6 illustrates the beekeeping apparatus 10 secured to the fivegallon bucket of FIG. 3. As illustrated in both FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, thetop side of the beekeeping apparatus 10 includes a recessed area 20defined in the surface of the top side. The cross-sectional shape of therecessed area is generally rectangular with rounded corners, butadditionally includes protruding surfaces 22 protruding proximate amidpoint of each lengthwise side. The recessed area 20 itself is sizedand dimensioned to accommodate a side of a beekeeping frame, and theprotruding surfaces 22 are preferably sized and dimensioned to helpstabilize a beekeeping frame received within the recessed area 20.Notably, in alternative implementations, protruding surfaces 22 may beomitted, may be positioned differently, or more or less protrudingsurfaces may be utilized. For example, FIG. 10 illustrates a preferredimplementation in which protruding surfaces are omitted from a recessedarea.

The recessed area 20 preferably includes a plurality of generallyrectangular openings 24 defined therethrough. The generally rectangularopenings 24 are preferably sized and dimensioned to correspond tooverhanging portions of a beekeeping frame, such as those portions 02illustrated in FIG. 1. The openings 24 are preferably configured tocorrespond to multiple sizes of frames, such that a frame having a firstdepth could be received within the recessed area 20 such that anoverhanging portion is received within a first one of the openings 24,as illustrated in FIG. 7, while a frame having a second, lesser depth,could be received within the recessed area 20 such that an overhangingportion is received within a different one of the openings 24 disposedcloser to a lengthwise middle of the recessed area 20.

In some preferred implementations, the beekeeping apparatus 10 isconstructed of plastic, while in at least some other implementations thebeekeeping apparatus is constructed of aluminum or another metal. Thebeekeeping apparatus 10 may be molded or cast, or constructed in anyother suitable fashion.

In a preferred method of use, a user secures the beekeeping apparatus 10to a bucket, removes a frame containing honeycomb from a hive, and thensecures the frame to the beekeeping apparatus 10 by positioning a sideof the frame within the recessed area 20 such that an overhangingportion of the frame is disposed in an opening 24 of the beekeepingapparatus 10. The user can then uncaps cells of the honeycomb, forexample by using an uncapping tool such as an uncapping fork or knife.

In a preferred methodology, the user first uncaps a lower portion, suchas a lower half, of the honeycomb, then flips the frame 180 degreesvertically so the previously upper comb will now be disposed proximatethe new lowest portion of the frame, and uncaps the remaining portion ofthe honeycomb, such as the other half. Such a methodology is believed toallow for clean uncapping utilizing the beekeeping apparatus 10 and afive gallon bucket of a honeycomb secured to a frame that may otherwisebe too large to cleanly uncap over a five gallon bucket (for example,uncapping the entire honeycomb at once may cause a portion to fall overthe side of the bucket). In at least some preferred methodologies, whenuncapping each portion, a user starts proximate a middle of the lengthof the frame, while in at least some other preferred methodologies, auser starts proximate a bottom of the length of the frame (relative toits then-current disposition).

FIG. 8 illustrates schematics for a preferred implementation of abeekeeping apparatus. In the schematics, the beekeeping apparatus, likethe beekeeping apparatus 10 illustrated in previous figures, isprimarily solid. In at least some implementations, however, a beekeepingapparatus is designed to require less material by coring out sections ofthe beekeeping apparatus. The top side of such an exemplary beekeepingapparatus is illustrated in FIG. 9.

In one or more preferred implementations, a beekeeping apparatusincludes one or more openings configured to receive a nail ornail-shaped object. Such an opening may be defined in a top side of abeekeeping apparatus, a bottom side of a beekeeping apparatus, or bedefined through the beekeeping apparatus all the way from the top sideto the bottom side. FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary beekeepingapparatus including such an opening, and FIG. 11 illustrates a nailreceived within the opening. In one or more methodologies of use, such anail can be utilized to rest a beekeeping frame thereupon and spin thebeekeeping frame.

Although the beekeeping apparatus thus far described herein areconfigured for use with a five gallon bucket, alternativeimplementations may be configured for use with other repositories, suchas, for example, a larger or smaller bucket, or a different type ofrepository.

Additional disclosure of beekeeping apparatus in accordance with onemore embodiments of the present invention is contained in an Appendixhereto in the form of photographs of such beekeeping apparatus. ThisAppendix is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Based on the foregoing description, it will be readily understood bythose persons skilled in the art that the present invention issusceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments andadaptations of the present invention other than those specificallydescribed herein, as well as many variations, modifications, andequivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggestedby the present invention and the foregoing descriptions thereof, withoutdeparting from the substance or scope of the present invention.Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein indetail in relation to one or more preferred embodiments, it is to beunderstood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary ofthe present invention and is made merely for the purpose of providing afull and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosureis not intended to be construed to limit the present invention orotherwise exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations,modifications or equivalent arrangements, the present invention beinglimited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A beekeeping apparatus comprising: (a) a bottomside having an arcuate groove defined therein, the arcuate groove beingsized and dimensioned to correspond to the rim of a bucket having agenerally circular cross-sectional shape such that the beekeepingapparatus can be mounted onto the rim of the bucket with the rim of thebucket received within the arcuate groove; and (b) a top side includinga plurality of receiving slots, each of the receiving slots beingdefined in a recessed area of the top side of the beekeeping apparatus;(c) wherein each of the receiving slots of the plurality of receivingslots is sized, dimensioned, and spaced to receive a protruding portionof a beekeeping frame.
 23. The beekeeping apparatus of claim 22, whereinthe beekeeping apparatus comprises plastic.
 24. The beekeeping apparatusof claim 22, wherein the beekeeping apparatus comprises aluminum. 25.The beekeeping apparatus of claim 22, wherein the beekeeping apparatuscomprises molded plastic.
 26. The beekeeping apparatus of claim 22,wherein the beekeeping apparatus comprises cast metal.
 27. A methodcomprising manufacturing a beekeeping apparatus including (a) a bottomside having an arcuate groove defined therein, the arcuate groove beingsized and dimensioned to correspond to the rim of a bucket having agenerally circular cross-sectional shape such that the beekeepingapparatus can be mounted onto the rim of the bucket with the rim of thebucket received within the arcuate groove; and (b) a top side includinga plurality of receiving slots, each of the receiving slots beingdefined in a recessed area of the top side of the beekeeping apparatus;(c) wherein each of the receiving slots of the plurality of receivingslots is sized, dimensioned, and spaced to receive a protruding portionof a beekeeping frame.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein thebeekeeping apparatus comprises plastic.
 29. The method of claim 27,wherein the beekeeping apparatus comprises aluminum.
 30. The method ofclaim 27, wherein the beekeeping apparatus comprises molded plastic. 31.The method of claim 27, wherein the beekeeping apparatus comprises castmetal.